FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 7, 2014
LAST WEEK
Ten-Year Site Plan
FMPA’s System Planning Department filed the All-Requirements Project’s (ARP) Ten-Year Site Plan last Monday with the Florida Public Service Commission. The plan describes the ARP’s estimated power generating needs for the next 10 years and identifies the location and type of proposed near-term generation capacity and transmission additions. Based on recent load projections, ARP is expected to meet its generation capacity requirements with existing resources through 2023. At this time, FMPA is actively involved in investigating and evaluating new renewable energy resources and demand-side resource opportunities. The 2014 Ten Year Site Plan is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Michele Jackson
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday for a workshop to discuss fixed cost allocators, peak shaving and cost shifting. The Committee discussed a proposal that would require All-Requirements Project (ARP) participants using utility assets and voltage reduction for peak shaving to stop by Sept. 30, 2014, and to stop all other peak shaving activities by Sept. 30, 2015. The proposal received broad consensus and will be presented as an action item at the Executive Committee’s meeting in May. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Nick Guarriello
All-Requirements Project February Load Statistics
The All-Requirements Project’s peak for the month of March was 703 MW, which occurred March 4 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The project’s load factor for March was 76%. Load factor is a ratio of actual energy (MWh) used during the period versus what would have been consumed if demand was at peak for the entire period. A higher load factor indicates more effective system utilization and results in lower average costs. The month’s peak was 83% of the budgeted peak, and energy was 99% of budget. A graph showing the All-Requirements Project hourly load for the month of March is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
THIS WEEK
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Tuesday at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project rate workshop. The agenda includes: 1) an update on natural gas markets and liquidity, 2) an overview of March operations, loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for April through June. Contact: Jim Atz
Public Gas Partners
Public Gas Partners (PGP) meets Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. via conference call for its Board of Directors, Pool 1 and Pool 2 meetings. Discussion topics include: 1) general and administrative budgets, 2) capital budgets, 3) fiscal 2015 Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia service agreements, 4) approval of PGP auditor, and 5) strategic planning session. Contact: Mark Larson
Information Technology Roundtable
FMPA hosts an Information Technology (IT) Roundtable on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the first-floor conference room. The roundtable provides an opportunity for IT staff to meet with their peers to exchange ideas and experiences on current issues, such as email usage, computer security, product help, best practices and more. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Sharon Samuels
APPA Public Communications Committee Spring Issues Roundtable
Ryan Dumas attends the American Public Power Association’s Public Communications Committee Spring Issues Roundtable on Friday in Washington, D.C. Participants at this annual event will discuss issues common to communications and marketing departments at public power electric utilities. Discussion topics will include: 1) telling the public power story, 2) legislative update, 3) keeping strategic plans alive and well, 4) media monitoring, and 5) leveraging distributed generation.
All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through April 6. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Michell Bosch, who celebrates 10 years with FMPA on Saturday, April 12.
COMING UP
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
The Policy Makers Liaisons Committee will meet April 16 at 1 p.m. at the Stanton Energy Center. Lunch will be served at noon. Please RSVP to Sue Utley so that she can provide a list of attendees to the plant’s Security Department. Attendees will need to provide picture identification at the guard gate. Contact: Mark McCain
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors will meet April 17 in the Board room at 9 a.m. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The All-Requirements Project Executive Committee will meet April 17 in the Board room at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Lineman’s Roundtable
Excellence as a Supervisor
The first module of Excellence as a Supervisor Series II is scheduled for April 22 and April 23 at FMPA’s Orlando office. The program, available to FMPA members as part of the alliance between FMPA and Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG), includes a total of six, two-day training modules. The training is designed to provide supervisors or prospective supervisors with the skills necessary to be effective leaders. The program is open to utility and city employees. Registration information is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
INDUSTRY NEWS
FPL’s New Riviera Beach Plant Comes Online
Florida Power & Light (FPL) brought online last Tuesday its new $1.3 billion natural gas-fueled power plant in Rivera Beach, which replaces an older, less http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-04-01/business/fl-power-plant-20140401_1_fpl-emissions-drop-oil-use>efficient; oil-fired plant. The new plant can generate up to 1,250 MW, enough to serve approximately 250,000 customers, FPL said. With the plant online, FPL can now begin charging customers for construction costs. The previously approved base rate increase due to the new plant is $2.40 per month for a typical residential customer who uses 1,000 kWh, said FPL spokesman Bryan Gaer.
Earlier 2016 State Legislative Session
With lawmakers pointing to issues such as spring break and tax season, the Senate Rules Committee last Wednesday approved a plan that would move the start of the 2016 legislative session from March to January. The bill is now ready to go to the full Senate. The House has already passed a broader version that would start legislative sessions in January during all even-numbered years.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and goveing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Ryan Dumas or Ashley Pawlik in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s Glossary, which features some of the most frequently mentioned committees, companies, places and terms, or contact the person named in each FMPA story to lea more. (Click here for the Staff Directory.)
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact: Ryan Dumas or Ashley Pawlik
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